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The cold finally got me!

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Posted 3/3/2009 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
This winter has been so cold and cold is not good for fibro (as we all know) and I have been trying to stay covered and warm in the negative temperatures that we have been having.  I have noticed a new ache for me this winter and it is in my hands.  I have trouble opening bottles and gripping anything.  Well, it was so cold yesterday morning when I left for work (hands covered) that my hands started aching and by the time I got home the pain was almost unbareable, it felt like I had a pole shoved through my palms and broken knuckles (sorry so graffic).  I wrapped my hands in a warm rice pack and it helped as long as I kept the pack on my hands (can't make dinner that way).  I live in Upper Michigan, any advice from others who have experience in hand pain.

I long for warmer temperatures sad .

Posted 3/3/2009 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
My hands hurt when I do most anything,whether they're cold or warm. On me it's the muscle at the base of each thumb and across the wrist. I've been told it's tendonitis and I have two thumb braces I wear at night. Sometimes it feels like a hot poker has been shoved into my hands, the rest of the time they just ache. Because of this, I can only do about two hours a day of any activity that uses my hands. Hope you find some relief. Diane
Posted 3/3/2009 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Meggie. I don't have the problem with my hands that you do but I wanted to say that I am sorry you are going through that. I guess try to keep your hands as warm as possible all the time. I have to be careful with the cold temps myself because my hands got a case of frostbite a few years back and can become unbearably cold and painful in just a few minutes. Not fun. I live in the south-central UP and I agree that it has been a brutal winter. I too am looking so forward to no snow and warm temps. Yesterday I ordered some plants for the new patch of flower garden I'm putting in this year. The worse part is now I'll have to wait til May to get them and be able to plant them. At least the days are getting longer so there is hope. Hang in there. Lisa
Posted 3/4/2009 1:01 AM (GMT 0)

I get hand pain alot especially when it is cold I went to the local corner store and was trying to get my money out of my wallet and could not grip it. my neighbor was there and he grabbed it out for me. I also have Reynauds which doesnt help either people sure do look at you funny when they see blue or purple fingers. But the pain is definatley worse when it is cold like today they feel stiff and almost as if the bones could pop out of the skin.

LeeAnn

P.S> the little hand warmer packs do work if you have to be out for very long. Dr does not recommend I use it on a regular bases.

Because her thought is you need to realize sometimes that its time to go inside huh im only outside long enought to go in and out to car.

Posted 3/4/2009 1:09 AM (GMT 0)

The pain in my hands was bareable until I left work, now they are throbbing again and it was 24 degrees out.  I think I will need to just ride this out, Winter is not going away anytime soon.  Lisa I am just a few miles from Lake Superior and we get a lot of lake effect snows and cold winds off the lake.  The snow is pretty and I used to enjoy going out in it but I can't get passed the pain.  I have a daughter that is in 4-H and her group always helps out with the sled dog races and I used to go along just to watch.  Not this year, it was just to cold and I didn't want to embarrass my kid by leaving right after I get there.

One positive is my girls have been helping me with dinner (it's that or they eat cereal),  They do actually seem to want to help.  My oldest did a school project on Fibromyalgia (she is in 9th grade) and I think it opened her eyes.  She has been helping out more.  So not all is bad I guess and she did get a "A" on the paper. 

  

Posted 3/4/2009 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Meggie. I went to college in Houghton and lived in Marquette for several years so I completley understand about that lake effect snow and cold winds. Not fun at all. My mom had bought me a t-shirt many years ago when I was at Tech that said "If you can't take winter you don't deserve summer." I laughed about it when I was younger but I don't anymore. Anyone with fibro who has trouble with winter definitely deserves summer and lots of it. I can't wait. Wish I had the magic answer for your hands.

     Lisa       ps- good job with your daughters helping out and the A on the fibro paper. I'm sure doing that helped her understand your fibro/pain reality.

Posted 3/5/2009 12:45 AM (GMT 0)

My hands are feeling a little better today but it did hit 40 degrees today.  It's hard to believe that just this past Friday it was snowing so hard that two snow trucks collided because visibility was zero, they didn't see each other (no-one was hurt thankfully).  The kids had another snow day so they were happy. 

LeeAnn, I have thought about the handwarmers but I really only go from the car to the house, it's a brief time so I think it might be a waste.  I don't know though, if things get worse I may give it a try.

Lisa, I am real close to Marquette, we actually spend a lot of time there.  The kids like to swim in Lake Superior shocked , not me!

Posted 3/5/2009 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Meggie,

I am in northern lower Michigan. So I know what you are going through. We just went through some really cold weather. But it got in the 40's yesterday and is suppose to get warmer from here on in. I really hope so, it has been a long winter and I am truly anxiously awaiting spring so I can get out in the woods and hunt those morel mushrooms.

I hope that you feel better soon. From one Michigander to another.

Take care my friend.

Hugs, Karen

PS this has been the snowiest and coldest winter that I can remember for a long time. We still have a ton of snow in our yard.
Posted 3/5/2009 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
I hear you about the hands. I have arthritis plus fibro and anytime mine get chilled they ache soooo bad, it doesn't even have to be that cold. Just washing them in cold water is enough to make them hurt. I have put gloves on in the house to work if my hands are cold.

 

I really hope you guys get a break from the weather up there soon.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 3/5/2009 4:34 PM (GMT 0)

Meggie, the cold just does me in too! When we were having the temps and windchills below zero the pain was so bad I just wanted to cry! When the temps are above zero, it is a little better. I too always wear gloves and have not had that problem with my hands. It's either "all over" or my legs and feet and that is wearing boots and a long wool coat when I go outside. Not sure why it targets certain areas.

May spring get here REAL soon!!

GamJill

Posted 3/5/2009 8:56 PM (GMT 0)

Marlee,

The cold water is getting me also, I need to remember to let the faucet run for a bit first.  I also discovered I need gloves to take things out of the freezer.  My kids get a real kick out of that turn .  We are having another day of warmer temperature so I have been inspired to put some winter things away and take out spring things.  I know we have a lot of winter left but I just can't wait.

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